Automatic box machine



L506 ll6 R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec.

26 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 R. H. PENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 26 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 26. 1924. 1,506,116

R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec. ,26. 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEA/ TOR Aug. 26, 1924. 1,506,116

R. H- FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 26'. 1918 9 'SheetsSheet 1 l/WENTOR Aug. 26 1924. I 1,506,116

R. H. 'FENN AUTOMAT IC BOX MACHINE Original Filgd Dec. 26. 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet s J21 J22 J2 INVENTOI? Aug. 26 1924.

' R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX momma 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Dec. 26

R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 26. 1918 e Sheets-Sheet 7 INVEN T 0)? Aug. 26 1924.

R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 26. 1918 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 lNl/ENTOR R. H. FENN AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE Original Filed Dec 26 1918 9 Sheets-$heet 9 INVENTOR 5%? Patented Aug. 26," 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT H. FERN, OF WHITES'IONE, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC BOX MACHINE.

Application filed December 28, 1918, Serial No. 288,298. Renewed December 6, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoBnR'r H. FEN'N, a citizen of the United States, and resident of \Vhitestone, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Box Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for automatically, continuously and rapidly making boxes from cardboard and paper.

The prime object of this invention is to provide a machine that requires nothing further from the operator, toward the making of a box, than the filling, from time to time, of the box blank and box label magazines and the adhesive reservoir; the em tire operation of making a box being performed entirely automatically by the machine.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a machine that will automatically feed a cardboard body blank from a magazine to a mechanism adapted to fold it up into box form around a plunger.

Another object is to provide a mechanism comprising a magazine adapted to carry a stack of cut cover labels and means for extracting them singly therefrom byv a carrier.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for applying adhesive to a die carried by said carrier, so that adhesive may be imprinted on the top label of the stack aforementioned.

Another object is to provide means for delivering labels coated with adhesive, singly, to position within a box covering mechanism, under a. folded box blank, so that it can be folded by said mechanism, around said box blank, over its upper edges and thence, downwardly inside making a complete box, entirely automatically, from the box blank, box label and adhesive. 45 The type of box made by this machine is shown in Fig. 19, consisting of a box blank cut as shown in Fig. 32, bent up and covered by a glued box label N shown in Fig. 35; in a form having a bottom and side walls with the top open.

This invention consists of a single organized machine comprising several interdependent and harmoniously operating mechanisms.

The invention is shown in the several sheets of accompanying drawings, in

Fig. 1 is a front view of the assembled machine.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the assembled machine.-

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the table, with the upper mechanism removed, about on the line A A of Fig. 1, partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a section, forward to rear, of the machine about on the line B B of Fig.

1, through the feed slide and box covering mechanism, part in elevation and part in section for clearness.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the feed slide and magazine base.

Fig. 6 is a partial view of the magazine base from the under side.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the box folding and covering mechanism.

Fi 8 is aside view, in partial section for c earness, of the box folding and covering mechanism.

ig. 9 is a plan view showing a formed box blank and rollers folding the end flaps, of the box label, about the ends of the' formed box blank.

Fig. 10 is a front view, in partial section, of the adhesive applying mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a side view, in partial section, of the adhesive applying mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the adhesive applying mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view showing scra r of adhesive mechanism.

F1 14 is a front view, in section, of the d ie carrier and suction lunger.

Fi 15 is a face view of the under side of said carrier, die and plunger.

Fig. 16 is a erspective view of the die.

F ig. 17 is a ront view of the label feeding mechanism.

Fig. 18 is a side view of the label feedin mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a front view of the label feeding mechanism with the magazine in its highest position.

Fig. 20 is a. plan view of the label feeding mechanism. 1

Fig. 21 is a view of a section on the line A A of Fig.'17.'

Fig. 22 is a view of a section on the line A A of Fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a view of a section on the line B B of Fig. 17.

Fig. 24 is a view of a section on the line B B of Fig. 19.

Fig. 25 1s a front view of a portion of the label feeding mechanism, showing a stack of labels, the upper one being separated from those beneath.

Fig. 26 is aview of a portion of the label feeding mechanism showing cam that operates the separating levers.

Fig. 27 is a view of the lower portion of the label feed-mechanism showing the pawl.

about to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

Fig. 28 is a side sectional view of the expansible plunger, showing a central plunger without an extended foot.

Fig. 29 is an end view plunger.

Fig. 30 is a side view of the expansible plunger, the central plunger provided with an extended foot.

Fig. 31 is an end sectional view of the of the expansible plunger shown in Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 shows a portion of the feed slide with a box blank in the recess.

Fig. 33 shows a portion of the feed slide, with box blank in recess, and expansible plunger lowered upon it.

Fi 34 shows a portion of the feed slide,

with ox blank folded up around expansible' plunger, and held to plunger by clips.

Fig. 35 shows box blank raised and slide rrying adhesive coated label underneath. Fig. 36 shows sides of box label folded up against folded box blank.

Fig. 37 shows end fla s, of box label, folded around ends of fol ed box blank.

Fig. 38 shows end of box label folded up against folded box blank.

0 F g. 39 shows edges of box label, pro- 1ect1ngl above top edges of box, being folded inwar ly.

Fig. 40 shows edges of box label folded down and inwardly into box by expansible plunger.

Fig. 41 shows expansible plunger at lowest position with sides expanded.

Fig. 42 shows expansible plunger withdrawn, central plunger ready to be, and box com leted.

Fig. 43 shows a side view of the cam H and the mechanism operating the feed slide.

Fig. 44 is a view of the cam D operating the central plunger.

Fig. 45 is a detail of Fig. 44 showing method of fastening cam rod into central plunger.

Fig. 46 is'a view showing cam l) and intervening mechanism operating expansible plunger.

Fig. 47 is a front view of the cam B and intervening mechanism operating the carriage E.

Fig. 48 is a side view of Fig. 47.

Fig. 49 shows a completed box.

A general description of the machine with its co-ordinated mechanisms is as follows For brevity, the cardboard blank M in Fig. 32 (which may be made of any other material adaptable for the purpose) which is scored and cut, or blanked out on a press, from which the body of the box is made, will hereinafter be designated as box blank.

Similarly the paper blank used to cover the cardboard body of the box N Fig. 35,

which is also blanked out on another machine, will hereinafter be referred to as a boxlabel.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is the upper frame which carries the cam shaft A cams and their train of operating parts; D the upper and lower box covering mechanism and E the carriage which carries the die E and the suction plunger E A the exhauster, and K the box blank magazine.

B is the middle or table frame which carries the lower box covering mechanism, be-

low D; G the adhesive applying device; the feed slide mechanism H; L the lever for starting and stopping the machine and J the box label magazine and feeding mechanism.

0 is the lower frame carrying the drive shaft 0 and the clutch mechanism L.

A specific description of the machine and its operation follows a I The box blanks are stacked one above the other, scored side down, within the four rods K Fig. 4, which are supported by the base K The base K has an opening through it similar in shape to the box blank M, but slightly larger. In order to insure that each blank will be centrally delivered, the ribs K spaced at intervals, vertically, on the inner walls of the base K are made so that they just touch the edges of a box blank of standit makes its rear stroke, the box blank'reoess H registers with the openin in the base K, and a boxblank immediate y drops into the recess. The recess H is approximately as deep as the' box blank is thick. The base K is so positioned that the slide H will just pass under it, therefore when the forward motion of slide H takes place the box blank, that has dropped into the recess H is carried out, from under the stack of box blanks, with the slide.

The base K is adjustable as to clearance above the slide H by washer shims between the base K and the table 13, around the cap screws K.

The clearance is made justenough so that only one box blank can be extracted, at a time, as the slide H moves forward.

Sometimes the sides of the box blank M Fig. 32, warp and turn up at the edges M so that sufficient weight cannot be put on the stack of blanks to cause the bottom one to lie fiat in the recess. If a blank in this condition is extracted from the magazine K without provision for these edges they will be crushed back, and an imper eot or no box would result. In order to prevent-this, the forward lower edges of the opening throu h the base K where they are adjacent to. the sides of the box blank, are

- bevelled upwardly toward the back as shown at K Fig. 6. These bevelled edges gradually force the up turned edges of the box blank sides down, until they pass under the base K without being crushed or mutilated.

In the bottom of the recess H are small ribs H v 'which are so placed that they engage the rearward edges of the sides of the box blank. The ribs H engage the front edges .of the sides. Their purpose is to centrethe box blank, should for any reason, the ends'M be warped so the lie higher than the surface of the slide The ribs H also serve to push the box blank from under the pile in the magazine, should the rear end of box blank M lie higher than the surface of the slide H.

The side ribs H are so placed that they snugly engage the sides of the box blank M, and maintain it in position in the recess when the slide moves forward.

In order to further assure that the box blank M will be held in the recess H air suction may holes H These holes lead into an air duct H which is connected through the pipe H to the exhauster A The reciprocation of the feed slide H is effected by means of the the bell crank lever H ivotally supported at H and the rod end into which the cam rod H is screwed and locked in position by jam nut H. This feature provides for changing the position of the stroke of the slide; decreasing the effective length of the cam rod throws the slide stroke farther tothe rear, increasing it throws the stroke to the front.

The cam rod H passes through bearings and around this rod, and restin be applied through the suction link H Fig. 43,

in the flanges A and A. Mounted on the cam rod, and pinned to it, is the cam washer H, on this rests the forked end of the cam lever H, the cam rod H passing between the arms of the fork. The cam lever H is pivotally mounted on the cam lever shaft A (which incidentally supports all the cam levers) and which is carried in bearings on the frame A. B removing the caps A the cam lever sha t and cam levers can all be removed from the machine without disturbing any other parts of the machine.

Half way between the point where the forked end of cam lever H rests on the cam washer H and the centre of the shaft A, a cam roller H is mounted on cam lever H so as to rollagainst the face of the feed slide cam H -mounted on the cam shaft A", carried in bearings in the frame A.

Incidentally the cam shaft A carries all t e upper cams). By removing the caps A all the cams, mounted on the cam shaft, can be removed without disturbing any other parts of the machine.

The upper end of cam rod H is threaded, on the web A is the compression spring 'A nut H and washer H hold this spring in place and provide meansfor changing the spring tension. As the cam H revolves the spring H pulls the cam rod H upwardly causing the cam washer H to press the cam lever H upwardly,*- and incidentally presses the cam roller H against the face-of" the cam H over which it rolls as the cam revolves, and thereby, through the train of mechanism described, causes the feed slide to reciprocate as determined by the outline of the cam H.

In order to relieve the train of mechanism of the strain of an inordinately heavy spring H an auxiliary sprino' H is provided, the lower end fixed and the upper end attached, by means of a rope H running over a pulley H, to the slide H. Therefore when the slide moves forward the spring H is stretched, and when slide returns, the spring H contracts and aids in returning slide to rear position.

When the slide H moves to forward position the box blank M is centred directly under the plunger D, (D designates the.

scends upon and firmly holds it in place.

The plunger, shown in detail in Figs. 28. 29, 30, and 31, consists essentially of a solid central portion I) and an outer shell D. made of a resilient material such as spring steel, bent up into the form shown, so that it fits snugly and slidably about the lower portion of D Through each of the sides of the shell D a slot D is out. In each side of D a pin D is fastened so that it projects into but not through the slot 1). The end of each in D is bevelled downwardly toward the p unger 7 plain, as shown in which allows the shell D to be ushed up and snapped over the pin D, sai pins slippin 'into said slots D. Y

- e up or end of the slots striking against the pins revent the shell D from leaving the soli plunger D In D there are spring pockets B, into which springs Df, under com ression','are placed. The springs maintain t e shell D in its. lower position as shown in Fig. 28. The small holes D are air vents.

The upper portion of D is flared outwardly so that, when I) is depressed to its lowest position, as'shown in Fig. 41, the sides of the shell D are expanded or pushed outwardly. A flange D surmounts the flared portion of D the external dimensions of this fian e being approximately that of the external dimensions of the finished box.-

Its function is, as shown in Fi 41, to square up the top edges of the box be me it is ejected.from the machine.

The plunger D is carried on the lower end of the tube D. Through this tube D and a hole in the shell D the central plunger D operates.

This central plun er D may be either Fig. 28, which type is used for small boxes, or, with an extended foot D", as shown in Fig. 30, as used for 'D parallel to those of the plunger D and shell D.

The central plunger D is operated directly from the cam lever as shown in It may here be remarked that all of the action and functions of the cam levers, cam rollers, cam springs, cam washers and cam rods are similar; the cam rod is iven' a variable reciprocated motion determined by the outline of the particular cam, and the cam rod transmits this motion to other devices to produce the specific result required.

The central plunger D, Fig. 44, is practically a continuation of the cam rod D actuated by the cam D and is fastened to it by the means shown. The lower end of cam rod D is threaded and screwed into a tapped hole D in the upper end of central plunger D Fig.'45. This construction admits of the vertical adjustment of the cen-. tral plunger D relative to the cam washer D". A look nut D maintains any desired setting.

All of the box covering mechanism D Figs. 1 and 2, above the table B is operated by cam rods adjustably attached to arms carried by a plurality of vertically telescoping and independently operated tubes, the lower ends of said tubes being variously attached to the direct box covering and holdin devices.

us the plun r D is operated by the cam D" Fig. 1. ig. 46 shows the train of mechanism, the plunger D being carried on lower end of tube -D Tube D is fastened mechanism is shown. D are the end fingers and D the side fingers. Their function is to operate upwardly through the end slots H" and side slots H in slide H; in one operation to push the sides and ends of a box b ank up around plun er D Fig. 4 shows the fingers just starting to lift the ends. Fig. 34 shows the sides folded up around the plun er D Imme iately the sides are folded up, the side and end cli s descend and slide over the top edges 0 the sides, holding them snugly against the lunger D as shown in Fig. 34. The side 31 and end D" fingers then descend, and the plunger D central plunger D, clips D and D holding folded box blank, all rise together taking box blank with them as shown in Fig. 35.

The fingers D and D are referably made uite rigid so as to maintam the dis tance etween opposite fingers approximately constant and keep the boxes that are formed between them of uniform size. For some kinds of boxes using a ver thin box blank, the fingers may be made exible.

The end fingers D are carried on an outer telescoping tube D sliding. over a tube D which carries the side fingers D. The tube D slides upon and is guided by a central rod D. This rod is supported in the base D, which in turn sets on an inter- This intermediate base mediate ,base- D. has slots in its upper surface fitting ribs on the under side of D, and ribs on its under side fitting grooves in the frame B The upper set of ribs and grooves are at right angles to the lower set so that the base- D may be moved, by the sliding of ribs in grooves of either D or D or both, until guide rod D is exactly central with the vertical axis of the lunger D. The screws D hold the parts f) and D to any desired setting.

The upper end of the uide rod D is provided with a rectangu ar head D of approximately the external dimensions of placed around tube D D and D. The spring maintains the pin and serves as a guide for the fingers D and D. The guide rod D is also vertically adjustable by means of the screw D- and lock nut D, and locked from turning by a set screw.

This screw D is adjusted so that the rectangular head D" supports the central portions H and H of slide H, included between the rectangular slots, H. H and H H respectiveg, whenever either central portion H or is over the head D.

The base I) also carries a standard with pins and bearings for levers D and D, D being attached by links D to tube I) and lever D being attached by links to tube D Cam D through its came lever and cam rod 1), which screws into rod end D, and is locked in position by nut D, operates end fingers D and in a similar way, cam D operates side fingers D by means of cam lever, cam rod. rod end and lever D, links D and tube D. A yoke guide D also slidingly supports and centres the tube D and the guide rod D within.

The cam rods D and D are made in two parts, the upper part provided with a washer D (describing D pinned fast, and a tube D also pinned fast to said cam rod. The lowerpart of cam rod D slidingly fits into this tube 1). A pin D passes through the rod 1), and each end into the slots D" in the tube D. A washer D is pinned to rod D and a compression spring D is and between washers the finished box,

D pressed against the lower ends of slots D and the whole acts as a solid rod, except, when for some reason, the slots in slide H may not register with fingers D and D then the fingers, as they rise, strike the under side of the slide H and the spring D compresses. The object of the device is to prevent the breakage of the levers D and D, which would happen if the fingers struck the under side of the slide and no safety provision was made. The cam rod D is provided with a similar safety device.

The box blank having been folded about the plunger D and lifted with it, the slide H moves to rear position carrying with it a glued label N as shown in Fig. 35. The method of gluing, feeding and placing of the labels in the slide will be described later. Air suction through the holes H which are connected to a suction air duct H holds the label in position on the slide within the slight recess inside the surrounding'rib'H, The air duct H is connected through the flexible hose H to the exhauster A The adhesive is applied to the label N as a marginal border, shown as a stippling N- 35.

When the slide H is in rear position the label N registers centrally with the plunger D carrying the folded box blank, and the slots H, H register with the fingers D and D 1 respectively.

The plunger D together with the central plunger D then descends and deposits the folded box blank M upon the centre of the label N.

The side fingers D then raise and fold the side flaps of the label up against the sides of box blank as shown in Fig. 36, while at thesame time the side clips D rise up out of the way of the label and side fingers D The corner label flaps N are then folded around the corners of the folded box blank, as shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 37, by the roll ers B.

These rollers are rotatably mounted on pins D carried on the corner levers D which are in turn pivotally mounted in the frame 1) at D, Figs. 7 and 8. The levers D are each provided with an arm D pin connected to links D which are in turn connected to the arm D and spring rod D. Between the head of the spring rod D and the arm D is the compression spring D. I

This spring rod and spring are a safety device. The spring rod D is slidably mounted in arm 1) so that if arm D descends, together with the tube D, and the rollers D, or levers D or parts, encounter any other part which may become jammed, or out of place, the motion of rollers and levers D is simply stopped; the spring D compresses, rod D slides up through hole in arm l) and no damage results. In operation the arm I) descends, the links l)" are depressed, and push the lever arms 1) outwardly, causing corner levers D to swing inwardly carrying rollers D past the corners'of the box as shown in Figs. 9 and 37. Each corner lever D carries tworollers 1), each rotatably mounted iua forked swing arm D. which swing arm is pivotally mounted on lever B, one on each side, at D. A compression spring D is introduced under compression between the ends of the swing arms I), held in place by the pins D The adjusting screws D may then be set so that any desired pressure within the capacity of the springs D, may be had between the rollers D and the corner flaps of the label N folded around the corners of the box.

The above corner levers D are operated by cam I) through the cam lever, cam rollers, and cam rod screwed into arm I) and held by lock nuts. The arm 1) is fast to the upper end of telescoping tube D. The cam is laid out so that therollers D are moved in and roll over the corner flaps slowly, to allow timefor the glued surface flaps of la 1 up against the end of the box of the corner flaps to be thoroughl and firmly pressed against the folded box lank; while t e outward motion of the rollers is several times faster.

The corner flaps having been folded around the corners of the box, and the rollers D having been withdrawn, the end fingers D rise throu h the slots H and fold the end as shown in Fig. 38.

The outside of the box is now completely covered. The central plunger remains depressed and holds covered box down on the slide while the expansible lunger is withdrawn upwardly out of the box as in Fig. 39.

The ortion of the label that projects above t e upper edges of the box blank is next turned inwardly, and, then folded down inside the box and against the inside walls of the box. This is accomplished by the side top folders D" and end top folders D, and the lunger D The si e to folders D which are pivotally mounte at D, swing down, and the folder D pushes the projecting side edge of label inwardly over the ed e of the box.

The end top folders D", w ich are .also pivotally mounted at D, swing down, and just as D is being withdrawn, and before the projecting part of the label, that has been turned inwardly by D can spring 11 wardly, folds the end projections of t e label inwardly as shown in Fi 39. At this instant the lunger Di descen s, and just as D is with rawn, drives the turned in projecting edges down into the box as shown in Fig. 40.

The side top folders D are operated by cam D through the usual cam lever, cam roller, cam washer, and cam rod D screwed into the arm D that is fastened to the upper end of the telescoping tube D. To the lower end of this tube D is attached the arm D, which, through the intermediary of the safety spring D and Safety rod D links D and arms D is connected to the side top folders D.

When the cam causes the cam rod D to descend the links D depress, and spread apart at their lower ends, pushing the arms D apart and thus causing the side top folders D to swing downwardly and inwardly about the pivotal bearings at D.

In Fig. 39 the folders I) that come into. contact with the label are pivotally mounted at D. A screw D, threaded through the upper folder arm and bearing against the end top folder D provides means for adjustment, since the spring D" keeps the end of the screw D pressed firmly against the end top folder D so that, adjusting the screw.1nwardly, raises the contact edge of folder D in relation to the top edge of box and adjusting it outwardly lowers 1t.

The end top folder D" is operated by cam D" through a train of mechanism similar to that operating D. That is, cam lever, cam roller, cam washer and cam rod screwed into arm D fastened to the top of telescoping tube D. The arm D is fastened to the tube D and connects with the end too folder D" through the intermediary of the safety spring D safety rod 1), links D and arms D.

The contact folder D of side top folder is similar to D of end top folder I)".

The contact edge of the folder D is ap proximately as long as the inside dimension of the box, and the contact folder D is approximately as long as the outside width of the box.

The projecting edges of the label having been turned down inside of box by plu er D as shown in Fig. 4-0, the upper pa continues to descend, and the sides D are forced outwardly by the flared side of D The sides D in turn, firmly press the turned in portion of the label against the inside of the box as shown in Fig. 41; the fingers D and D having in the meantime raised above the top edge of the box, pre senting a firm backing for the exterior of the box and preventing its deformation.

It is to be noted that the flange D on the inner plunger D just slides within thefingers D and D and presses down on the top edges of the box to square them up to make the box uniform in height all around.

llt is to be particularl noted that the sides D of the shell, in Fig. 41, when the plunger is down, do not touch the flange 1), and that there is a clearance; also that there is a clearance between the bottom of the inner plunger D and the expansible shell D These clearances are for safety, to avoid breakage should a double thickness of box blank get between th bottom of the plunger D and the slide H.

In Fi 42 the box is shown completed, the fingers and l) having dropped and the plunger 1) raised out of the box. When the plunger D starts to rise out of the box, the springs D which have been compressed, immediately expand and push the shell D 0d of the flared part of inner plunger D so that the shell D contracted, withdraws easily out of the box without disturbing the turned in edges of the label.

While the plunger D is withdrawing, the central plunger D is held against the inside Ill bottom of the box holding it in position on bent in at H, and the portions H, striking the base K limit the forward motion of the ejector. The spring H" tends to keep the ejector in forward posit-ion.

Carried on the under side of the slide H are the two levers H pivotally mounted, one on either side of the slide, each with its upper end H rejecting u wardly through the small slots in the s ide H. H is a leaf spring fastened at H and fitting into a slot H in the endof the lever H This ring resiliently maintains the cam lever l? in a neutral position to which it Wlll return, if either raised or depressed and released. At each side of the slide and. fastened to the guides on which the slide moves are the cams H, having a portion H at an angle to the horizontal straight portion H. The in H projects from the side of the lever When the slide H makes its rear stroke, the upper ends H of levers H engage the forward end of ejector H and push it back. Each of the pins H rides above the cam portion H until it reaches the portion H. It rides up over thisand drops into neutral position to the rear of it, still holding the ejector back against the tension of spring H, which has been extended as the ejector is pushed back.

When the box is finished and lies on slide H as in Fig. 42, after central lunger D has been withdrawn, the slide l starts to move forward, the lever H and pins H being carried with it. Each of the pins H engages the bent up portion H of cam H and is depressed by it; the upper ends H being drawn down into the slots H. As soon as the ends H are depressed, the ejector is released and, springing forward, strikes the rear end of the box and throws it out of the machine where it is caught in a hooded receptacle. The pins H continue, depressed, along underneath the cams until they reach the forward ends, hen they immediately spring up and levers H resume their neutral position; the upper ends H again project up through the slots H and are ready to repeat their function when slide starts to rear again.

While the box blank is being brought forward from the magazine, folded up around the plunger, and the label in turn folded around and into the box, a box label is being marginally coated with glue or other adhesive, extracted from a feeder magazine, and carried to a position N over the slide as shown in Fig. 4, ready to be deposited thereon after a finished box has been ejected from the machine, and slide H has reached its forward limit.

The box label feeder J (J is used to denote the entire label-feeding mechanism) as shown in various views, positions, sections tated to the left.

etc. in Fi 17 to 27 inclusive, consists of a yoke J mm the lower arm of which the barrel J depends. The. barrel J 2 is supported and uided in they bearing J which is separate irom the frame B of the machine, and is adjustable laterally, and heldto a setting by bolts J. The lower end of the barrel J is closed b the washer J against the bottom of whic ,the barrel roller J presses.

The roller is rotatably mounted on the end of the lever J l which is carried on the shaft J 8 which has hearings in the frame, B. The cam J Fig. 1, through its cam lever, cam roller, cam washer and cam rod J which screws into the rod end J pivotally connected to'the lever J T, reciprocates the barrel J 2 and yoke J and attached parts in accordance with the cam outline.

Projecting upwardly from the yoke J, are the two side arms J which are guided by the guide arms J and the two end arms J which are guided by the two guide arms J Also projecting vertically up- .wards from the yoke or platen J} are the four label guides J", which engage the labels N as shown in Fig. 20.

Slidabl mounted on the four label guides J" are the screw platen J and the box label platen J Pinned into the screw platen J is the feed screw J, threaded from end to end. Between the arms of the yoke J and threaded on the screw J is a ratchet J which has a bearing on the top of the barrel J.

The underside of the ratchet wheel J 21 is provided with teeth J. The pawl J is pivotally mounted on the bearing J 3 at J. It has a lower arm J to which the spring J fastened at J is attached. Projecting from the pawl J there is also a lug J which, as-the spring pulls the arm J rotates the pawl until the lug strikes the stop spring J as shown in Fig. 27 which also shows the yoke J descendlng, the pawl J 2 about to strike one of the teeth J As the yoke descends the ratchet wheel tooth J engages the pawl, and the ratchet wheel is rotated to the left, the space of one tooth. Fig. 17 shows the yoke J at bottom of stroke.

The compression springs J one around each label guide J and resting on screw platen J support the label platen J re-.

siliently, so that any labels placed on the label platen, reciprocate as a whole with the yoke J and also move upwardly, relatively to the yoke J as the ratchet wheel is ro- The teeth J 22 on the ratchet wheel and the number of threads on the screw are arranged so that for each reciprocation of the yoke J the label platen moves upwardly, relatively to the yoke, a distance a little greater than the thickness lUU of the thickest label used. A slot in the label platen at J slidably engages the rib. J on the arm J and steadies and prevents rotation of the label platen about its vertical axis relative to the side arms J and J To prevent the ratchet wheel from rotating backwards as the yoke J lifts away from the pawl J the check pawl J plvota-lly supported and held in operating position by leaf spring J which is mounted at J so that it can be swung to one side, allowing check pawl J 33 to drop away from ratchet wheel teeth J This is necessary when the screw laten J having reached its highest position, is lowered by turning the ratchet wheel to the right after pulling pawl J 23 down out of contact with the ratchet wheel teeth.

Pivotally mounted on each end arm J are the separator levers J. Each is con structed and operated as follows,'lhe spring J keeps lever J always pulled toward the arm J so that the lower end J always rides against the guide arm J The separator 'lever J is carried in the slot J41 Fig. 20 and is fastened to the pin d which is rotatably and slidably mounted in the portion of the arm at each side of the slot J. Between the head of the said pin J and the side of the arm J is the expanding spring J which tends to. keep the whole separator lever J pulled over against the left side of the slot 5. But on the side of each lever J just below the slots J are the small cams J Fig. 17 which are shown engaged by the pins J which are fastened in the guide arms J. In this position the lower part of the separator lever J has been pushed to the right, until it dropped into the lower end of the cam cove J Fig. 26. In Fig. 18 J is shown ust ready to drop into the cam groove as soon as the label feeder rises. When it does rise, J slides down into the cam groove and the upper end of lever J which carries a spring supported rubber pusher J moves inwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 25; until both levers acting, the pushers strike the top label of a stack carried on the label platen, and push each end of the top label toward the centre which bellies it up as shown.

As the feeder continues to rise the part J slides upwardly and out of the cam oove J reaching the straight surface J 7 and the pushers raise and move outwardly. As soon as J as is out of the cam groove, the cam lug J having also moved upwardly and out of enga ement with the pin J, the spring J pu ls the separator lever J 86 to the left so that when feeder descends, the lower portion J of lever J rides on the wall J therefore the pushers J do not move inwardly as the feeder descends. As it descends however, the cam In J as before explained, again contacts with the pin J and the separator lever J is again moved to the right and J 38 is again ready to. drop into cam stroke.

Pivotally mounted on the side arms J are the partin levers J Fig. 17 (there are two but may e more and one is similar to the other) shown in contact with the adjusting screws J and held in contact by the leaf springs J To the upper end of lever J is attached the thin parting spring J The adjusting screws are so set that just at the instant the label pushers have bellied up the label, the lower portion of the parting lever J also moving upward, slides over adjusting screw J allowing parting ppring J 52 to move inwardly and between e top label, which has been bellied up,-

and the stack of labels below, as shown in groove J on the next upward 1 Fig. 19. It remains in this position until the feeder descends and the lever J again striking the adjusting screw J moves inwardly, while the parting spring J moves outwardly ready for the next upward stroke. The function of the parting springs is to prevent any of the lower labels from being extracted from the feeder when the to most label is being withdrawn.

ach upper endof the guide arms J" is slotted and a flat label holder J is pivotally'inounted in the slot so that it sents a narrow edge toward the label and is held pressed toward them by the leaf spring 5. The upper part of J is bevelled upwardly and outwardly and the lower portion downwardly and inwardly. lhe upper portion is so made as to provide clearance for the marginal die E when the feeder is at the top' of stroke as in Fig. 19. The lower portion is so made that the labels which fit loosely between the guide arms J 17 when being pushed upwardly by the label platen will centre themselves exactly, andalso be held below the points J above which point the labels are neverfed, so that they do not fly ofi when the feeder reciprocates.

Pivotall mounted on the label platen d Fig. 1 is the pressure link J, whose foot J slidably fits into a slot J in the screw platen J When the feeder raises with a stack of labels as in Fig. 19 and the labels come in contact with the marginal die E the springs J compress, and the footof pressure link J slides to the left in slot J Referring to Fig. 21 the foot J is shown in starting position, in contact with arm J of upper collar J the spring J acting through arm J maintaining the arm J always in contact with foot J The upper collar J is mounted and pinned fast to the vertical square rod J which extends downwardly from the label laten, through the screw platen and throug a bearing J in the barrel bearing J. Just above the bearing J and restingon it and held down p by the clip J is the lower collar J provided with a square hole, approximately the same size as the square rod J wlnch sl1dably passes through it. Therefore when the upper collar J rotates to the left as link J pushes it, when springs J are compressed, as the feeder rises to the top of its stroke, the rod J also rotates lower collar J" to the left. On lower collar J is an arm J Figs. 23 and 24 against which the lower arm of pawl J is held in contact by the spring J. I

Figs. 23and 27 show the pos1t1on of J and pawl J 23 before the feeder rlses. Figs. 24 and 19 show their positions when the feeder has reached the top of its'stroke and springsJ have been compressed. The arm J has pushed the lower arm J of pawl J to the right, and the pawl J 23 is thereby swung downwardly to the left. The leaf spring J made so as to be ad ustable up or down by means of the slot J and provided with the nose J is shown in Fig. 19 in position so that the nose J is in contact with, and under, the lug J of pawl J thereby holding the pawl-J down so that when the feeder descends the pawl will not come in contact with the teeth J of the ratchet wheel J The ratchet wheel therefore will not be rotated, and the screw and label platen will not be fed upwardly.

In order to release the spring J the release pin J Fig. 19 is provided. When the feeder descends, this release pin strikes the upper part of the spring J and pushes it away from the pawllug J as shown in Fig. 17. The pawl, released, 15 immediately pulled to normal posit on by the springJ, the label platen having n the meantime raised as the springs J agam expanded, allowing the square rod J to rotate back to its normal position.

In operation, the stroke of the feeder is I so arranged that with the labels on the label platen, and the feeder J at the top of its stroke, the pressureof labels against marginal die E is sufiicient to compress the springs J just enough so that the pawl J actuated by the square rod J and at tached parts as above described, is depressed similar to the position shown in Fig. 19 but just a little higher so that the nose J of leaf spring J does not catch under lug J.

This is the normal condition when labels are just at the right height. But since at each upward stroke of the feeder a label is removed from the top of the pile of labels, and for each stroke of the feeder the pile is fed upwardly a distance greater than the thickness of the label, it is evident, that after a number of strokes the labels would be too high and some would fall from between the guide arms J However this cannot hapen because as soon as the labels are fed up a little higher than normal position, the springs J are compressed a little more than normal and consequently, the pawl J through the mechanism intervening between the label platen and said pawl, is depressed until the nose J does catch under the lug J 28 of the pawl and holds it depressed so that when the feeder descends, the pawl, not engaging the ratchet wheel teeth, the screw and label platens are fed no higher for that stroke. By the above means thelabels are always maintained at the correct operative height and the pressure requisite for the attainmentof the imprint of the adhesive from the marginal die is maintained practically a constant.

An adjustment is also provided to rotate the feeder slightly about its vertical axis so as to slightly change the position of the label N relative to the marginal die E The object of this is to change the position of the label on the feed slide, since the carriage and suction plunger maintain the label in the same position as it is occupied in the feeder when it deposits it on the feed slide, in order to make the sides of the label parallel with the sides of the box blank folded around the expansible plunger D This is accomplished by the bar J" Figs. 20 and 25 held in place by the screws J Depending from this bar is the rod J over which the slot J 75 in arm J slides. The feeder is rotated by moving the bar J 72 as required, forward or back.

At G Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is'shown a device for applying adhesive which may be a glue or paste, etc. It consists essentially of a glue receptacle G Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 13 provided with a water bath G in the outer receptacle G G is a source of heat. Partly immersed in the glue is the glue roller G* supported on the drive shaft G carried in the bearings G, open at the top so the roller and attached mechanism can be easily lifted out of the glue tank for cleaning. The shaft Gr is fast in the roller G A sprocket G drivenfrom sprocket G by chain G rotates the glue roller. The sprocket G and its shaft-are driven by pulley G and belt G from a pulley G on the machine drive shaft C The arms G are removably attached to the tank G at G and are also supported by the shaft G which passes through them. A glue scraper G shown enlarged in Fig. 13, provided with side scrapers G through which the shafts G pass, is thereby pivotally mounted, so that the spring G arranged to pull upwardly on the arm G of the scraper, pulls the scraper edge Gr downwardly against the face of the glue wheel G. The shafts G are fast in the arms. G

The glue wheel revolves in the direction of the arrow and the Inc which adheres to its surface is scrape oi the face andsides by the scraper G and its sides G" The screws G provide means for regulat the space between the scraper edgeG an the face of the glue roller, thereby also regulating the thickness of the glue layer on the surface of .the roller after it passes the scraper.

Plvotally mounted on shaft G, carried in bearings B- in the frame B are the arms G carrying the feed roller G The feed roller is carried on a shaft G provided with slotted bearings in the arms G so that it can easily be lifted out for cleaning.

The cam G" Fig. 1 through its cam lever, cam roller, cam washer, and cam rod G, which is screwed into rod end G and locked by nut G and the lever G on the end-of shaft Gr operate the feed roller G The roller is shown in full lines in its highest position, running against the under side of the marginal die E As the die passes over the feed roller a coating of glue is applied to the under face of said die. The stop G adjusted by screw G and engaging the top of lock nut G determines the limit of upward motion of the feed roller G After the marginal die passes, the roller G is depressed and runs against the glue coated face of the glue roller G from which it'in turn is againcoated with glue and is then ready to be raised and to coat the marginal die on its next passage to the right. The dotted lines Fig. 10 show the feed roller running in contact with the glue coated face of the glue roller G.

At E Figs. 1 and 2 is shown the carriage with its marginal die E and suction plunger E It appears in detail in Figs. 4, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16,17,18, 19, 47 and 48. It slides on the two horizontal rods E carried in the frame A at A. The cam E Fig. 1 operates the carriage causing it to travel from over the feeder J tothe left of the machine over the slide H and back again.

The camrod E Figs. 47 and 48 in this case is reciprocated like the others, by the cam lever E. The lower end passes through a bearing A and the upper end through part of" bearings A and A The lower the cam rod is threaded at E and held be tween the two lock nuts E is the nut E which is bored to fit the tops of the threads. It is provided with an arm E through which the cam rod H passes; this arm prevents the nut E from rotating about the cam rod E A pin E projects from the back of E and passes through one end of link E. The other end of the link is pivotally attached to the lever arm E bearings E. On the front end of shaft E" :is keyed the long dependin lever E" which is pivotally connected to t e carriage E by the link E In operation when the cam E 'de resses the cam rod described, depresses the end of lever E which oscillates shaft E f, and causes lever E to pull carriage E to the right, while when the cam allows the cam rod to rise, the action is'reversed, and the lever E pushes carriage E to the left. An adjustable stop E Fig. 3 limits the motion of the carriage to the right and an adjustable StOX' E limits its motion to" the left.

weight E suspended on a rope E",

5 it, through the mec anism which passes over a pulley E carried on v a shaft supported in the frame A, and fastened to the middle of the arm E"-at 1E3, aids in moving the carriage E to the The marginal die E is shown in Fig. 16, impression side up. Fig. 35 N shows how the glue is ap lied'in a strip adjacent to the marginal e ges of the box label. The die is removably fastened to the bottom of the carriage by means of the two pins E Figs. 14 and 15, which are fast in the die and provided at their upper ends with notches into. which the spring ins E are pressed by the leaf springs to which they are riveted. To attach the die the pins are entered in the holes in the carriage and pushed upwardly, the pins being bevelled on the top slide by the spring pins E which snap into the notches and firmly hold the die in position. To release the die the leaf springs E are spread outwardly, the spring plns pull out of the notches in die pins and the die drops down from the carria e.

central vertical bearing is provided on carriage E through which the suction plunger E reciprocates vertically. At the lower end it is provided with a hollow head E communicating with the tube E The head is provided with a face E shown in Fig. 15, through which small holes, larger at their inner end are bored, making a suction plate. The suction plunger head approximates the shape of the opening E through the marginal die but is smaller to provide working clearance so that the suction plunger head can reciprocate vertically through the marginal die.

Parallel to the carriage guide rods E is the square rock rod E mounted in a hearing at each end in the frame A at A. F astened on the left hand end of rockrod E is the arm E pivotally attached to the rod end E into which the cam rod E is screwed and locked in place by the lock nut E.

The cam E through its cam lever, cam

roller, cam washer and cam rod E, oscillate; the arm E and rock rod E as-required and determined by the cam outline.

The rock rod lever E is provided with a square hole and slidably fits the rock rod E. It is positioned between the two arms E in which the rock rod E also has bearings. As the rock rod E oscillates the rock rod lever E through the plunge-r links E vertically reciprocates the suction plunger E The auxiliary rock rod E which is fixed in the two arms E which are in turn fastened to the rock rod E slidably passes through an extension arm fastened to the lever E. The function of this auxiliary rod is to aid the rock rod in oscillating the arm E being farther from the center of the rock rod, than the square sides of the rod, it reduces the friction of the lever E on the square rod as it slides along it, impelled by the arms E as the carriage E moves to right or left.

A flexible hose E Fi s. 1. and 2, 10 and 11, connects the plunger 2 with the plunger valve E Figs. 1 and 2. This valve is connected by pipe to the exhauster A and is operated by cam E through its cam lever, cam roller, cam washer and cam rod E which is fastened to the plunger of the valve which opens the exhaust when it raises and closes the valve when it descends.

In operation, assuming the carriage E to right until it strikes stop E when it is directly over feeder J. The feeder has in the meantime been rising, the top label is separated from the lower ones and as the feeder reaches top of its stroke the top label is pressed against the under side of marginal die E Then suction plunger E descends and the plunger head E rests upon the top label and continues down in contact with it as the feeder descends. Just as the plunger head E contacts with the top label the valve E opens and air suction acting through the holes in the face E of plunger, sucks the label tightly against it. Therefore when the suction plunger stops its descent a short distance above the table B the top label is held fast to it while the feeder with the balance of the labels descends to bottom of stroke. The carriage E then moves to the left. The feed roller G has in the meanwhile been depressed, and running in contact with the glue roller G obtains another coating of glue. When the carriage with the glued label reaches the stop E it is ready to deposit the label on the slide H. In Flg. 4 at N the glued label is shown held by suction to the under face E of the suction plunger, which has descended and is just about to deposit it on the slide H.

When the suction plunger does drop and deposit thelabel the suction valve E" closes, the label is released from the suction plunger and the suction through the holes N holds the label firmly on the slide. The carriage and suction plunger are then ready for another movement to the right to repeat the cycle.

The automatic box machine is driven by a belt running on pulley C which also has a portion of its flat face, andfrom this fiat face, by means of a belt, drives the exhauster A.

At L is'an ordinary cone clutch operated by the hand lever L through the link L the rock lever L and clutch ring L. C are the bearings for shaft 0, and C are thrust collars running against the ends of bearings C.

Depressing the hand lever L throws the clutch pulley L, which runs loose on shaft C into contact with clutch cone L. This revolves it, and by means of a belt L it drives the cam shaft pulley A What I claim is 1. In an automatic box machine the combination of a horizontally reciprocated feed slide together with a plurality of telescoping, vertically reciprocated tubes, operating independently of each other, one of said tubes provided with a plunger adapted to press a blank against said slide.

2. In an automatic box machine the combination of a horizontally reciprocated feed slide together with a plurality of telescoping, vertically reciprocated tubes, operating independently of each other, one of said tubes provided with a rectangular plunger adapted to press a blank against said slide.

3. In an automatic box machine, the combination of a plunger and a shell provided with yielding sides adapted to fit over said plunger together with a central plunger adapted to operate through said plunger and said shell.

4. In an automatic box machine, the combination of a plunger, a shell provided with yielding sides adapted to fit over said plunger and means adapted to prevent said shell from slipping off said plunger together with a central plunger adapted to operate through said plunger and said shell.

5. In an automatic box machine, the combination of a plunger, a shell provided with yielding sides adapted to fit over said plunger, pins in the sides of said plunger 

